Composed by Douglas Knehans. Contemporary. Score and part. 68 pages. Armadillo Edition #4823081. Published by Armadillo Edition (A0.1025532).
Tempest is a flute concerto and takes its idea from the movement of the wind around the world, and the 'deeper aspects of the human condition, the human experience, thought, reflection, psychology and emotion'. The turbulent opening is immediately arresting. and one can imagine the swirling wind flowing around powerfully. Pulsing rhythms and captivating brass lines reinforce this sense of power, before the mood breaks into a more gentle duo moment for flute and harp. Knehans' orchestration is imaginative and full of colour, making effective use of different timbral combinations and creating a transparency of texture through the use of solo lines from around the orchestra. The flute part is dazzling and takes centre stage with a sense of charismatic virtuosity. Challenging and exhilarating throughout, the first movement has the sort of energy one might associate with the opening movement of the lbert concerto, but intensified and developed to reflect the 21st century flute and the modem world.
The second movement has a greater sense of stillness, and the flute line weaves around relatively static strings, low woodwind. Despite the stillness, an underlying intensity gives the music a brooding feel; this is music that deals with profound ideas, and as such, it is vital that the music, too, has depth. Knehans has achieved this convincingly; this is a piece which demands attention and holds you in its spell.
The final movement is full of rhythmic punchiness and fantastic orchestral energy. The scoring is once again highly imaginative, making use of bassoons and low brass in pounding rhythms punctuated by the strings. Over all of this, (flutist) Gareth Davies astonishes and dazzles; displaying not only a phenomenal technique but also a magnetic energy and charisma which is spellbinding . I would not be exaggerating to say that this is one of the best flute recordings I have heard for a long time.
An impressively vibrant compositional voice. Unmissable.
Carla Rees-Pan The Official Journal of the British Flute Society
